USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago: Match Night

The U.S. national team is back on home soil after posting a pair of road wins to kick off CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. The Americans face Trinidad & Tobago tonight in a match-up of the top two teams in Group A (ESPN2/Galavision, 8pm).

The U.S. team has mustered a pair of 1-0 victories on the road, but will expect a more wide-open encounter from a Trinidad & Tobago side that has scored four goals in its first two matches (a win and a tie).  The Americans will look to control possession in central midfield and test T&T with the speed of Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley (and possibly Eddie Johnson).

Trinidad & Tobago's attack is led by striker and former MLS journeyman Cornell Glen and young midfield sensation Keon Daniel. Glen will face off against U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley, who brought him to MLS in 2004 (using allocation money earned from the Tim Howard sale) with the MetroStars before dealing him to FC Dallas after just one season. Glen played with four teams in four years before returning to Trinidad.

The 'Soca Warriors' will be coming in short-handed, missing veteran striker Dwight Yorke, who has returned to Sunderland with a "thigh injury" that some reports are suggesting is cover for Sunderland simply wanting him back (You didn't think Roy Keane would be sentimental about someone's national team aspirations, did you?). Starters Avery John and Khaleem Hyland are serving yellow card suspensions while captain and playmaker Aurtis Whitley is out with an injury.

I will be providing a running commentary during the match so stay tuned for that. If you will be watching the match then make this your place for pre-game discussion and in-game action. Feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (and follow my commentary after the jump):

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FINAL- Another shutout for Tim Howard, another goal from Clint Dempsey and a great performance from Michael Bradley, who was dominant in the first half. Not much to complain about, though Eddie Johnson still looks lost.

That's all for now. Share your thoughts on tonight's match in the comments section below. Thank you all for following along here. Good night.

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FINAL- USA 3, Trinidad & Tobago 0. Complete domination. Yes, there was some sloppiness in attack, but they created and they attacked all match. There should be some pressure taken off after the 1-0 victories, but this win should also clear the way for the youngsters to get looks.

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93rd minute- Good stuff from Kljestan tonight. Not a bad showing.

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91st minute- U.S. defense holds up well tonight. Solid match for the back four, especially in the second half when T&T actually had a pulse.

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90th minute- Kenny Cooper, pick up the white courtesy phone.

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89th minute- Here lies the body of Eddie Johnson's national team career. Please pay your respects.

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85th minute- Glen has a look but dribbles for way too long. Fans in New York, Columbus, Dallas and Los Angeles all go, "Oh, yeah, that's Cornell Glen, I remember him now."

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83rd minute- Americans have seven more minutes to cover the 3.5 goal spread on this game.

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82nd minute- Clark's header cleared off the line.

JOHNSON with a close range shot blocked. WOW.

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81st minute- Americans still pressuring, American fans still singing. First corner for USA tonight. Really.

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78th minute- Lewis in for Dempsey.

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77th minute- Clark with the foul on Cornell Glen. A little former Metro on former Metro violence between the former teammates.

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76th minute- Here comes Eddie Lewis, likely for Beasley.

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74th minute- This game has died. It wouldn't be totally unpatriotic if you switched over to watch Mexico-Canada. Okay, so maybe it would be a little.

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71st minute- Can Eddie Johnson make the most of this opportunity? With Jozy Altidore and Kenny Cooper knocking on the door, Johnson may not get too many more chances.

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69th minute- Interesting to see the Ricardo Clark-Sacha Kljestan combo in central midfield. I don't think we would have seen these subs if it were 2-0.

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67th minute- Johnson in for Ching and Clark in for Michael Bradley. Very good performance from Bradley tonight. He gets a break ahead of his Moenchengladbach debut against Steve Cherundolo's Hannnover 96 this weekend.

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66th minute- Here comes Eddie Johnson.

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64th minute- Bradley springs Donovan with a pass but Donovan loses it when he could have passed to the wing to Beasley.

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64th minute- Cherundolo with a great play to get open but shanks a cross badly.

Kljestan has a shot saved by Phillips. USA pressing.

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62nd minute- Bradley dispossessed to start that play. Remember that play because Bradley critics will use it as exhibit A in a weak case against him being a regular national team starter.

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60th minute- Trinidad & Tobago has a goal disallowed. Howard makes a great first save before the offside.

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59th minute- Wow, nice studs up challenge from behind on Donovan. A yellow card for Wolff, could have been red.

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58th minute- Onyewu heads a Beasley free kick and Phillips get a hand on it but it falls to a wide-open Ching for the third goal. USA 3, Trinidad & Tobago 0.

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57th minute- GOAL USA!!! And it's Ching heading home an Onyewu header.

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57th minute- Akili Edwards with a yellow card on what looked like a hard but clean challenge.

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54th minute- T&T applying more pressure and showing more energy here. USA needs to stop giving away corner kicks.

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54th minute- Cherundolo clears one off the line!

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52nd minute- Telesford with more of the ball this half, but not being very effective.

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51st minute- Keon Daniel not having the best game tonight.

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50th minute- Another TT corner.

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49th minute- Yes, that was Onyewu running in the offensive half of the field, looking like a bull in a china shop.  T&T corner is headed out by Bocanegra.

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48th minute- T&T does get a head onto it but the mess is cleared away.

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47th minute- TT corner. odds of Onyewu heading this- 2-1.

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46th minute- And we're back. One change for Trinidad & Tobago. Anthony Wolff is in the match.

No changes for the USA.

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HALFTIME- What changes can we expect? Wouldn't shock me if there was a halftime sub for the Americans. I'm pretty sure we will see Eddie Johnson early on. Maurice Edu should also get into the game.

Trinidad & Tobago really had the wrong idea coming out so defensive. The player absences hurt and probably led to the decision, but it's a shame we didn't get to see them try and attack from the start.

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HALFTIME- The referee mercifully blows the whistle for halftime. USA 2, Trinidad & Tobago 0. Americans are dominating and would be up 4-0 if their passing was a bit sharper.

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45th minute- I'm calling it now: Eddie Johnson bags a second-half brace. Don't ask me why, just see it happening.

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44th minute- Anybody else cringe when Beasley made that last challenge?

Americans should have at least one more goal.

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43rd minute- Okay, so maybe it could have been a PK but Dempsey went down a bit too easily.

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42nd minute- Onyewu clears, USA on the counter, and Dempsey goes down in the area but no call. Didn't look like a PK.

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41st minute- T&T corner.

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40th minute- Do you get the feeling that T&T plays like they all just met two hours before the game?

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38th minute- So here's the question: How many goals does the USA have to score so critics don't say "They only scored X"?

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32nd minute- Bradley has been all over the field tonight. If Coach Bradley had concerns about his son being able to handle the heavy lifting by himself without an Edu or Mastroeni, Michael Bradley is showing it tonight. And yes, to be fair, the T&T attack is fairly non-existent, but Bradley is smothering from the midfield stripe.

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29th minute- T&T midfielder Keon Daniels has been a no-show tonight. Not that any T&T attacker will look good tonight.

Donovan finds Dempsey, but Dempsey can't get a good touch to finish from point-blank range.

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27th minute- Smart foul from Hislop because Ching was ready to find Donovan on the run. Americans in full control.

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25th minute- Nice work by Gray to stop Donovan. He hasn't stopped playing.

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23rd minute- Will Trinidad & Tobago put up a fight the rest of the night? They look pretty flat right now.

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21st minute- Donovan runs into Marvin Phillips after getting clipped in the area. Look at Cornell Glen lobbying for a yellow against Donovan, his former Galaxy teammate.

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18th minute- GOAL USA and it's Dempsey with the finish. USA 2, Trinidad & Tobago 0. Beasley with the pass to find Dempsey on the late run.

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17th minute- Here's some history for you. The reason Cornell Glen wound up on the radard screens in MLS was after scoring a hat-trick for San Juan Jabloteh against the Chicago Fire. He was on the MetroStars soon after, but his reputation for being a bit of a head case caused him to bounce around with four different teams in MLS.

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16th minute- Looks like Brian Ching caught Keyono Thomas with the studs.

Cornell Glen is going to be bored tonight. Hope he brought something to read.

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14th minute- I really want to see Beasley do something tonight. He had a bad game against Cuba and has a good match-up against Edwards. The US team doesn't need him to play well tonight to win, but they'll need him down the road.

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13th minute- If the Americans are patient, they will pick apart the T&T defense.

So why in the world is Dennis Lawrence not starting for T&T? There has to be a story there because he is their best defender.

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11th minute- Bradley volleys home a great ball from Donovan.

T&T is in trouble if it is going to sit back and defend. This could get ugly.

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10th minute- GOAL USA!!! And it's Michael Bradley with the finish, serving a nice glass of Shut-Up Juice to his critics. USA 1, Trinidad & Tobago 0.

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9th minute- Beasley getting the better of Carlos Edwards early.

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8th minute- Keon Daniels is too far out to cause a problem for Howard, but you can tell that if he gets a chance close there could be problems.

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7th minute- TT with a free kick from deep.

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5th minute- Bradley passing well early on, as are all of the Americans.

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4th minute- T&T looks ready to let the Americans possess in the middle third while bunkering in the final third.

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3rd minute- You can already tell the difference in speed of ball movement when you have a well-manicured field.

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1st minute- And we're off. And yes, the stadium looks empty. Unbelivable.

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PRE-GAME- Not exactly a big crowd for tonight's match. One friend at the game is telling me the place is barely half full. Ugh.

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PRE-GAME- It's a final in Costa Rica, Costa Rica 3, Haiti 1. Here are the standings for Group C after today's matches:

• Costa Rica(3-0).......9 pts
• El Salvador (2-1)......6 pts
• Haiti (0-3)............0 pts
• Suriname (0-3).......0 pts

Yes, Costa Rica is essentially through after three games while El Salvador can clinch with a win in its next game. That means the group will be decided with two rounds of games remaining. Somewhere a Canadian fan is punching a wall thinking about how easy this group is.

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PRE-GAME- I have to say that Trinidad & Tobago's lineup looks pretty defensive. The absences of Yorke, Whitley and Kenwyne Jones (along with Avery John) could have T&T head coach Francisco Maturana trying to bunker and leave with a point. Not sure T&T is suited to playing that way.

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PRE-GAME- Costa Rica is up 3-1 on Haiti late and about to put that terribly weak group, Group C, to bed.

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PRE-GAME- In other CONCACAF action, El Salvador beat Suriname 2-0 (and if you complain about me giving that result because you were going to watch it later, I call BS.)

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PRE-GAME- The referee tonight is Jamaican referee Courtney Campbell. I wonder how T&T fans feel about a Jamaican ref working the match? I wouldn't worry too much. I'm sure Jack Warner checked him out.

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PRE-GAME- I can tell you right now that the two match-ups to watch tonight will be Carlos Edwards vs. DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Bradley vs. Keon Daniel. Bradley won't have to deal with Daniel by himself but he will be key to slowing down the T&T midfielder. The Edwards-Beasley match-up is going to be a track meet.

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PRE-GAME- Interesting to see Osei Telesford getting the start for T&T. Fire fans will recall he was with Chicago Fire last season before being waived in the off-season. He now plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders.

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PRE-GAME- Here is Trinidad & Tobago's lineup (I'll confirm positions ASAP so don't quote me on the placements, but this is the starting XI):

----------------------------Cornell Glen---------------------

Densill Theobald--------Keon Daniel------------Carlos Edwards

-----------------Osei Telesford----Clyde Leon---------------------

Akil Edwards----Cyd Gray-------Keyono Thomas---Makon Hislop

----------------------=---Marvin-Phillips---------------------------

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PRE-GAME- Here are the USA subs: Brad Guzan, Dan Califf, Frankie Hejduk, Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Eddie Lewis, Eddie Johnson. No Michael Orozco and no Marvell Wynne.

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PRE-GAME- For those of you who forgot, it was Bob Bradley who drafted Kljestan in the first round of the 2006 MLS Draft with Chivas USA. Bradley traded away the No. 1 overall pick that year to the MetroStars for the No. 5 pick and defender Jason Hernandez. Bradley used the No. 5 pick on Kljestan, who I know Bradley had been high on for some time going back to his own days with the MetroStars.

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PRE-GAME- The lineup has 10 of the 11 players I thought it would, with Sacha Kljestan being the surprise over Maurice Edu. It shouldn't come as that much of a suprise considering Edu's performance against Cuba. Kljestan brings more of an attacking bite to the game so he should be able to give the Americans more numbers in the attack.

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PRE-GAME- Here is the USA lineup:

----------------------Ching---------------------

Beasley------------Donovan---------Dempsey

--------------Bradley-----Kljestan------------

Pearce---Bocanegra---Onyewu---Cherundolo

------------------Howard-----------------

Comments

[Adrian]

Ives,
Do you know what the starting line-up is?

[Nick]

I just hope that this lineup can provide the offense that we really need. 10k is a crying shame. Cross Toyota park off the list...

[randall]

only one defensive/holding mid!?!? is bob bradley out sick tonight? ;)

[Dominghosa]

At work. Which it seems like I always am nowadays. Will be checking in and out.

[JM]

good to see sacha get a chance tonight. no better way to find out where he sits in the pecking order than getting him some time on the pitch with the starters.

[Warren]

Quick edit Ives. You have Pearce as both LB and RB. I would imagine Dolo will be on the right.

That said, I'm curious to see how Kljestan will do in the center. Looking forward to the match!

[kswiss]

Hey Ives, I know Pearce has shown pretty well in his time with the Nats, but I sincerely doubt he'll be able to hold down both the left and right back positions. Just kidding. I'm assuming you meant Cherundolo on the right, though. Right?

[kswiss]

Other than that, I'm pretty happy with the lineup decisions. I'm excited to see what Kljestan will do tonight, and if he can stop giving away so many balls with his sometimes weak passing.

[aatabak]

wow, m. bradley with another start.
i love how he has earned the unquestioned starting role over everyone else, god forbid he sit junior to try anyone else or any other combination.

[matt]

Michael Bradley had a 97% completion rate against Cuba in 89 attempts.

[RS]

Hey Ives...What kind of crowd is expected tonight? Any idea on what ticket sales were going into tonight?

[aatabaki]

I don't think he has done what it takes game in and game out to not have his spot of for grabs. I for one think Edu is better d-mid that bradley. Edu at least has the vision to look forward by playing probing balls. Bradley it is either a lateral pass, pass backwards, or a turnover.

[Adam]

Who cares! let him rest!

[aatabak]

That 97% was against Cuba, not a single professional player.

[NateinSF]

Bradley played really well in this role last match, as someone noted high % of passes completed. He just needs to speed up his distribution a little and we should be all set. Edu had a lot more errant passed, a couple in horrible positions. I think MBs spot is justified.

[aatabak]

I am not saying he does not deserve time or starting roles now and again. I just don't think he has stood out from all the rest to always be given the starting nod. There is room for others to get a chance and not just rotate around Bradley.

[Steve O]

Hey Aatabak, Edu played against Cuba and managed a 90 percent percentage, so why was his percentage lower than Bradley's when both were playing against amateurs? Oh, let me guess, Edu was trying more difficult passes. Right, whatever you say. I like Edu but Bradley is still better. PERIOD.

[Steve O]

Aatabak, what you and the Bradley haters refuse to realize is that he really is the best of the bunch. No, he hasn't done anything fancy during his national team chances, but he's steady and getting better and does the job he's assigned well. The kid is a beast but some people hate his father so much they refuse to give him a fair shake. Can we put a hold on the Bradleys hate until after this game?

[aatabak]

Missing my point, steve o. I don't think he is an unquestioned starter game in and game out. I think given their National Team bodies of work that Edu has played better.

[kevin]

Let's go red, white and blue. Im following the game from sweden :) Let's rock CONCACAF tonight.

Anyone seen the England-Croatia game? Theo Walcott had a hattrick :D He has arrived.

[Steve O]

What body of work Aatabak? You're nuts. Edu shows some glimpses in limited time and somehow he's done better. Right. Whatever you say. Just because Bradley hasn't lived up to YOUR expectations for the position doesn't mean he hasn't played well enough to keep starting. You might want to check your own skewed view rather than keep wondering why Bradley keeps playing.

[NateinSF]

Edu is flashier because he went forward more in the Cuba match. MB was played deeper in a destroyer style position. The inclusion of Sacha further indicates that Edu was suppose to be the linking midfielder in the prior match. MB or Mastroeni seem to be the coachs pick for that role.

[MiamiAl]

Does anyone know where online other than espn360.com is streaming the game? Maybe justin.tv???

[kevin]

If the game isnt going our way, we need to bring on Lewis and Edu and EJ no later than the 70th minute. EJ should be certain to score against T&T.

[Ives]

Save the Bradley debate for some other time folks. Talk about tonight's game please.

[petergriffin]

Ching starting again. Good, but is there any chance he will be 1 of our forwards in 2010 in South Africa?

[NateinSF]

The T&T keeper is weak, lets test him out early!

[seak]

Am I the only one confused? Adu starts over Kljestan in the middle in U-23 competition. But Kljestan gets called up for qualifying?

[Jacob]

Nice to see the Sacha pick, not so nice to see what apparently will be a mostly empty stadium.

Go Nats

[MemRook]

I expect one thing and one thing only this game ... LIGHTS.

Come on the more-than-sufficiently lit red white and blue! USA!

[nico]

too bad about Yorke. Seems he has little chance of playing a significant role at Sunderland. Well, Honduras did it in Canada without Rambo de Leon...maybe T&T can do it...seriously doubt it though. Especially without the other Sunderland player, Kenwyne Jones.

[MiamiAl]

Answered my own question...It is on www.justin.tv

[Zach]

yes!!!!!!!!! the 4-5-1 can't wait

[Ryan]

Kljestan? Seriously? This is going to be a disaster.

[MiamiAl]

PeterGriffin, I think Ching is the ONLY forward so far that will DEFINITELY be in South Africa barring an injury...

[Jacob]

There's 10,000 people there, and 1/3 of them are Tobaggons.

Oh, like you didn't at least think of it...

[Gerald]

Yes it appears that T&T bought a good contingent of fans

[brett]

i like MB, but i would like to see him get some rest after this game... send him back to germany and let our depth in that position play some games.... MB needs some intl' rest, he's playing WAAAAAAAAAAAY too much...

glad to see bradley going on the offense today.... probably feels a bit comfortable being home....

[Zach]

I don't like when people get injuried but i pray Ching is not in South Africa

[Dominghosa]

And....here....we....GO.

[nico]

can someone tell me the announcers on ESPN2, dont recognize one voice. thanks much.

[J spot]

I love JP de la!!!! and harkes!!!! brilliant!

[J spot]

look at the attacking!!! and theres the answer to your question nico... beasley is sucking into the middle.

[Brant]

I expect the US to win and I hope for an entertaining game. Either way, it looks SMOKING GREAT on my brand-new 42" Vizio plasma that we just unboxed an hour ago.

[J spot]

who has gotten the most tail on the us national team... say landon

way to bunker tobago

that was a weak header and a great fall ching!

[J spot]

FINALLY

[brett]

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDLEEEYYYY!!!!!

[Brant]

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!

[DL]

Chalk one up for MB

[froboy]

gotta love that, great goal and i love hearing the usa chants

[Jacob]

Not even a defender!!! A defensive mid, sure, but not officially a defender!!

Well placed, well finished, 1-0

[DL]

That was actually a hell of a good finish.

[soccerroo]

I guess Bradley shows some of the doubters.

[ManicMessiah]

Bradley!

Though I will be the one to say this: it was off a set piece. Not that they haven't been playing well so far.

[petergriffin]

MiamiA!,

If he can stay consistent like his last few games, then i support him to be on the roster. What other forward options do we have for 2010? Altidore? Cooper? EJ? Charlie Davies? Donovan?

[Brant]

Lil' Bradley with a Sacha-class karate kick :)

And did I mention it looks damn good in HD on a 42" plasma?! :D

[Dominghosa]

GOAL! set piece. what else isn't new? MB with the goal near the goal. also nothing new.

[J spot]

beautiful! we look aggressive... think bradley was reading this post??? are there any us fans in bandanas??? i'm wearing one in DC!!!! almost 2!!!

[Dominghosa]

Only 42?

[Chris]

Hell! Once again I get no picture when the US is playing. At least no picture in the ESPN2 HD channel. Have to watch in SD. Second time I've had a match on on some channel that "temporarily out of service" (though I think it was a Red Bulls match that I was unable to watch last time). Is the match being broadcast in HD?

[Brant]

Dominghosa - it fits perfect in the space it's in. I looked at a 50, but it would be blocking part of the door... No point having an awesome TV if you can't get in the room where it is.

[Mark]

I hope the US scores another touchdown. I mean goal...

[J spot]

time to start drinking RUM!!!! i didn't see cohen coming...

[Dominghosa]

I was kidding. congrats on the new purchase.

[Nathan]

Sounds like JP keeps saying "Trinidad and Tabagel"

[petergriffin]

Who will get the 2nd? Im going for Beasley. Make it happen.

[J spot]

BOOOO sportscenter right now!

[Gerald]

If they go to Sportscenter again I might lose it

[J spot]

to bad beasley is a pu**y

[Dominghosa]

I mean, only 50?

[Jacob]

Why is Howard wearing yellow instead of green?

[kevin]

EJ better pray he can get some time in this game and can score. If he doesn't improve asap he will lose out to Ching for the next World Cup.

[froboy]

sweet commentators, lets see him get off the bench for fulham now

[brett]

DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEMPSSSEEEEEYYYY!!!!

ON THE RUN GOAL

[J spot]

wow we are looking great... bout time..

[Gerald]

T&T are playing really sloppy and it just cost them

[Mark]

Ha, great comment regarding Glen. Definitely looks like his support will be limited.

GOAL!!! Nice pass, and the proper call on the passive offsides.

[Dave]

DEMPSEY!!!! The drought is over.

[Brant]

Looked like Ching was offsides on that. Given CONCACAF refs, surprised it wasn't called back even tho he wasn't in the play.

[Jacob]

Attaway, Duece!

[Dominghosa]

wow. that was the best US goal I have seen since the Gold Cup Final.

[J spot]

beasley still a disappointment!

[usa]

i think most of you haters might be beginning to understand just how much the conditions played a part in the first two matches and how important those results actually were..

[soccerroo]

This could get bad. Dempsey and Bradley both score in the first 20 minutes. At this pace the score could get up close to the Barbados blow out.

[Mark]

Did you read Donovan's lips? He f**king pushed me.

[J spot]

is that boca sitting in a lawn chair?

[froboy]

for real on the pitch conditions, now we just need jozy and freddy and we'll be alright

[J spot]

PS ENGLAND looked GREAT today!!!! your thoughts?

[Mark]

Don't kid yourself USA, even if the US goes on to win this game by a score line of 5-0 you know a large chunk of people will complain it wasn't 8-0 and will want Bradley's head.

[soccerroo]

It looks like a small crowd in Chicago. Is it just the Camera Angel?

[J spot]

i wanna see clints goal on a replay again...

[kevin]

Dempsey. Now if he can just get back into the starting XI for Fulham. Hopefully he keeps up his great form.

[usa]

exactly mark, and if cooper had started we'd already be up 4 nil

[J spot]

sasha is a very good at passing... TIMMY!!!!

[J spot]

WTF bradley??

[J spot]

beasley sucks... BOOOO

[usa]

we may not yet go forward with the best teams in the world, but we work as hard as anyone to win the ball back when we lose it

[Dave]

CHING!!!!!!!!! Finish him!

[Gerald]

Ching has to bury that

[J spot]

poor shaka... he has nothing to talk about...